in touch when blundered and unseated rider 1st
held up, ridden approaching 4 out, no impression
led, ridden approaching 3 out, headed last, no extra run-in
mid-division, ridden approaching 4 out, soon one pace
towards rear, hit 5th, smooth headway 5 out, tracked leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, led last and driven out
towards rear, ridden after 5 out, soon beaten
tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 3 out, blundered last and no extra run-in
Yankee Holiday looks the most unexposed horse in the field, and thus he gets the nod ahead of the consistent Mystic Glen and Rosie Ford's Lascar De Ferbert. The selection has shown improved form when winning last time out at Hexham, and whilst the stable are not in the greatest of form, he could be good enough on only his third start over fences to put this average bunch to the sword. He jumps well and his prominent style of racing could induce mistakes from his rivals. Lascar De Ferbert heads the weights and could struggle under his big burden. He scored on his last run over fences, however he then disappointed when favourite for an average hurdles contest at Haydock, and looks to be an unreliable type. However if back to his best he could prove a danger. In contrast, the reliable hurdler Mystic Glen makes only her second chase start, almost two years after her first. She didn't really take to it that day, but with the services of Graham Lee she could figure. The rest look a distinctly moderate bunch, and therefore we return to Yankee Holiday as our idea of the winner.
Lascar de Ferbet (FR) 4-1fav (10-9) Led to 2nd, chased leader, ridden, weakened after 4 out, tailed off, 11th of 14, 42l behind Flake (11-5) at Haydock 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
Feanor 66-1 (10-7) Always behind, 8th of 13, well behind Flash Cummins (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov chs (4) gs in Oct.
Yankee Holiday (IRE) 9-2fav (10-5) Close up, led 5th, made rest, stayed on strongly, won at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in Sept beating Manoubi (11-12) by 5l, 11 ran.
No Kidding 25-1 (10-4) Towards rear, weakened 13th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Wee William (11-9) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in Jun, 13 ran.
Mystic Glen 11-1 (9-10) Mid-division, headway 6th, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 4th of 15, 7l behind Dishdasha (10-9) at Stratford 2m ldy hcp hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Northern Flash 20-1 (10-6) Always behind, 12th of 16, well behind Stormy Beech (11-1) at Sedgefield 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs in Oct.
Gunson Hight 100-1 (11-4) In touch, lost place halfway, tailed off and pulled up 4 out in race won by Flash Cummins (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov chs (4) gs in Oct, 13 ran.
